Yellow archangel

Scientific name: Lamium galeobdolon

As the bluebells fade, yellow archangel takes its turn to impress, with golden-yellow flowers carpeting our ancient woodlands.

Species information

Statistics

Height: up to 45cm

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

May to June

About

The flowers of yellow archangel come into bloom just as the bluebells are fading, replacing the blue carpet of a spring woodland with a golden-yellow one. A plant of ancient woodlands and hedgerows, yellow archangel may well have got its common name from its virtue of not stinging, despite having leaves that resemble a stinging nettle.

How to identify

Looking a bit like a stinging nettle, yellow archangel is a hairy perennial with heart-shaped or oval, toothed leaves, and whorls of yellow, 'hooded' flowers that appear up the stem.

Distribution

Found throughout the UK, but most common in England and Wales.

Habitats

Woodland

Did you know?

A widely planted garden variety of yellow archangel has the nickname of 'aluminium archangel' because of the silver streaks in its leaves. This variety has escaped into the wild in many places and is an invasive.